When walks aren’t working for your dog

Does this sound familiar?

You walk your dog because that’s what you’re supposed to do.

But walks feel tense, reactive, chaotic, or emotionally draining.

Or maybe you can’t walk your dog right now — because of injury, recovery, age, anxiety, or life circumstances — and you’re left feeling stuck, guilty, or worried you’re not doing enough.

Your dog pulls, scans, barks, freezes, explodes… or comes home more wired than when you left.

And you’re left wondering why something so “normal” feels so hard.

You might be thinking:
“We should be enjoying this more than we are.”
“I feel guilty for not doing enough.”
“There must be another way.”

There is.

The problem isn’t effort — it’s the advice

For years, dog owners have been told that more walking is the answer to everything.

But for many dogs — especially sensitive, reactive, adolescent, anxious, or easily overstimulated dogs — more exposure doesn’t create calm.

It often creates stress.

What those dogs actually need is:
• time to decompress
• predictable, safe engagement
• opportunities to use their brain and senses
• connection without pressure

This is where enrichment and relationship-based training come in.

There’s more to a good dog life than miles on a lead

I’m not anti-walk.
I’m pro dog.

Some dogs thrive on long countryside walks. Others don’t.
And when walks become the only way we meet our dog’s needs, everyone ends up frustrated.

At Laura Carter Canines, I help owners build calm, fulfilling routines that support their dog’s nervous system — with or without a lead in your hand.

Life beyond the lead

For many owners, this journey starts at home.

Wags Without Walks is an online membership I created for people who want to:
• reduce stress around daily routines
• meet their dog’s needs in calmer, more meaningful ways
• stop feeling guilty for not “doing enough”
• enjoy quality time with their dog again

It’s not about replacing walks.
It’s about not relying on them as the only solution.

Is this right for you?

This approach is for you if you’re open to doing things differently — even if you’re not sure what that looks like yet.

It’s especially helpful if your dog:
• finds walks overwhelming
• struggles with reactivity or over-arousal
• needs more calm, not more stimulation
• does better with structure, predictability and choice

If you’re looking for obedience drills, quick fixes, or “walk them until they’re tired” advice — this probably won’t be your thing.

Start together…

Wags Without Walks opens for new members once a month, from the last Wednesday of the month to the first Wednesday of the following month.

I do this on purpose.

It means all the new members join the community joins at the same time, starts with the same activities, and moves through the month together. No trying to catch up. No feeling behind.

Each month focuses on a new enrichment activity and a new Paws for Thought theme, so joining at the start makes the experience calmer, clearer, and far more supportive.

If this approach resonates, the best next step is to add your name to the waiting list.

You’ll be the first to know when enrolment opens — with plenty of time to decide if it’s right for you.

Laura specialises in customising activities for dogs with restricted exercise and supporting owners through this challenge. Her mission is to ensure these dogs remain calm and content despite limited daily exercise, fostering enduring bonds between them and their owners through compassionate training methods.